'Star Wars: Episode IX' announces cast will include Carrie Fisher

By Frank Pallotta, CNN | Posted - July 27, 2018 at 8:09 p.m.

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

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LOS ANGELES (CNN) — Disney has announced the cast for the next chapter from the galaxy far, far away — and it will include the late Carrie Fisher.

Fisher will reprise her role as Princess Leia Organa, using "previously unreleased footage shot for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,'" director J.J. Abrams announced Friday.

"We desperately loved Carrie Fisher. Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us," Abrams said in a statement. "We were never going to recast, or use a CG character."

Abrams added that with "the support and blessing" from Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, the film found a way "to honor Carrie's legacy and role as Leia in 'Episode IX' by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII."

Fisher died in 2016 after suffering a cardiac event on a flight from London to Los Angeles. She was 60. Following her death, Disney said that it had "no plans to digitally recreate Fisher's performance.

Disney also announced that Billy Dee Williams will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian. Mark Hamill will return as Luke Skywalker, alongside cast members Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Kelly Marie Tran.

Newcomers joining the cast include Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant.

Composer John Williams will return to score the film.

"Episode IX" will cap off Disney's new trilogy of the space saga, which began with 2015's "The Force Awakens." That film, along with last year's "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," have made more than $3 billion worldwide.

"Star Wars: Episode IX" lands in our galaxy on December 20th, 2019.